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Meet Adriana
Adriana is the dedicated mother to two wonderful children, 18 year old Juleana and 8 year old David. Her children are her world, and she devotes her life around raising two upstanding individuals. Adriana has had a strong upbringing by her loving parents Dolores and Jose, who continue to demonstrate amazing love and admiration for one another after 44 years of marriage. Adriana is the sister to two siblings, Jesica (husband Allen) and David (Wife Angie), both whom are happily married with children of their own. Adriana is an adoring aunt to six nieces and nephews. Being raised in a close-knit family, all who continue to maintain strong bonds, encourages Adriana to instill those same core-family values to her own children. As Adriana has stated, "my family is my everything!".
Adriana was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Her and her family moved to the northwest suburbs during her teenage years, which is where she continues to reside today. Adriana graduated from Streamwood High School and attended college, focusing on Criminal Justice. Having had her daughter at the age of 20, and her son at the age of 31, Adriana has worked two jobs for most of her adult life. She is currently paying tuition for her daugther's college education, who is currently a Freshman at Roosevelt University Chicago. As Adriana stated, " It’s a good feeling to be able to provide for your children".
Adriana is an exuberant, outgoing individual. Positivity beams from her essence. She is joyously unrestrained and is a valued friend to many. Many of her friendships span well over 30 years. Adriana is known to uplift those around her, always making sure her friends are being taken care of. She has always loved gathering with her friends and family, enjoying good times together. "I was always out and about with either family or friends. I enjoyed a good wine, had fun dancing. I genuinely love being around people.".
Exercising, eating right, and overall living a healthy lifestyle has been Adriana's routine. Being active was always so therapeutic to her. Fun Fact; Summer is Adriana's favorite season; however, Christmas is her favorite Holiday.
"I can truly say, my family
is my everything!"
Life After Diagnosis
"After becoming ill, a lot of things changed. I CHANGED!"
I am one of many faces of Scleroderma. Prior to being diagnosed, I experienced a sudden onset of rapidly progressing symptoms. I began to experience swelling in my hands and feet, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath. My feet began turning purple. The skin on my hands and lower legs began tightening. Joint stiffness overtook my body. Swelling in my feet was so severe that I could barely walk. Emotionally, I felt fear and worry. I consulted with many doctors, trying to find answers as to what was happening to me. I have been misdiagnosed twice, mistakenly as Lyme disease and Rheumatoid arthritis. I was medicated for improper diseases, whereas my true condition was progressing and still not properly identified.
I struggle every single day with the emotional, psychological, and physical trauma that my body endures. The simplest tasks are debilitating and require a lot of energy that even standing and walking is difficult to do. There are days that I wake up so stiff, that I cannot move. I live in chronic, constant pain. I depend on seven daily medications to function. I have lost a lot of my hair and am expected to loose all body hair with treatment. I have lost over 30 pounds unwillingly. I can not be outside in cold temperatures because I now suffer with Raynaud’s Syndrome. I occasionally get ulcers on my fingers and the pain is unbearable.
After becoming ill, a lot of things changed. I CHANGED! I had to quit my second job. My frequent visits to the gym came to a complete halt. Spending time with friends became an obstacle. All the things I enjoyed, I can no longer do. I have always been a fun, outgoing, active person; that is no longer me. This disease has taken over me physically, and at times it tries to steal my spirit, but I fight hard to remain optimistic.
I live with pain every day of my life; however, I try my hardest to deal with it and keep pushing forward. I know I won’t ever be normal again, but I try my hardest to live a normal life. I am optimistic, positive, and have faith that I will be ok in the long run. Plus, the support I receive from my family has been so uplifting. I can truly say, Family is everything!
